Re: education: EPI vs. the Manhattan Institute

["Max B. Sawicky" <sawicky@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 5/23/06, michael perelman <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> *Max & others, what do you think?
>
> Dropout Data Raise Questions on 2 Fronts*

> The major event has been the publication of a book by Mishel and
> Economic Policy Institute economist Joydeep Roy, "Rethinking High School
> Graduation Rates and Trends."

I haven't read the whole thing yet, but the main insight of the book
must be correct:



What's in question is dueling data sets that each require some sophisticated
manipulation -- not a pejorative -- to get results.
You can't possibly render a verdict unless you get inside all the gritty
details, which I have no plans to do.

The politics of it are more evident.  A finding that the rate is "not as bad
as you thought" puts public schools in a somewhat better light and proposals
for privatization have somewhat less political urgency.  This does not
really follow on the merits, but that's the politics.  As Mishel notes, in
some areas and for some population groups, graduation rates are awful.  So
there is really no case that no big improvement of some type is needed for
anybody, anywhere.

I don't know anything about the guys on the other side of the analytical
debate.  Their political cheerleaders tend to be anti-union DLC types.
Larry besides being my boss is a recognized labor market expert, and his
co-author Joydeep is a young hotshot w/a Princeton Ph.D.

mbs


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